Betty Williams

Betty Williams is well known as the President of the World Centers of Compassion for children. Williams is heads the Institute for Asian Democracy as the chairperson of the same. Along with these she is also the co-founder of the Community for Peace People. The Community for Peace People is established and dedicated for a single aim of bringing in peace and harmony in the world and denouncing violence and war. Though she is not a political figure neither she has a political background but still she has raised voice against the evils of society and escalating menace of terrorism in the world. At times her campaigns have been restricted in her own land but her humanitarian appeal has drawn attention from the entire world.

Born: May 22, 1943 , Belfast, United KingdomAwards: Nobel Peace Prize

Birth Details & Personal Biography

Betty Williams was born on 22nd May 1943 in Belfast, a small town in Netherlands. Betty’s father was a butcher whereas her mother was a devoted housewife. For her primary studies she has gone to St Teresa in Belfast and for her higher studies to St Dominic’s Grammar School. On June 14th 1961, Betty got married to Mr Ralph Williams and Betty had two children from her first marriage. Later she took a divorce from Ralph and got married to James Perkins in 1982 and moved to Florida.

Career

With the completion of her formal education Betty took a job of an office receptionist. Later after her second marriage when she moved to Florida in 1984 she became a speaker and tutored and lectured extensively. It was only after she witnessed the death of three children on 10th August 1976, her life took a huge turn. Those three children were hit by a car which was driven by an IRA absconder. She was moved by the occurrence & grieved. She then obtained around 6000 signature on the petition for peace in just two days after the incident. This campaign for peace attracted lots of attention from across the country and with the help of the aunt of the children who died, she co-founded the Women for Peace which was later renamed as The Community for peace people.

Under her leadership more than 10,000 people held a mass protest and a peace march to the grave of the children who died in the accident. The march was diffused by the Irish Republican Army but they were unable to stop the movement. The next peace march was attendant by 35,000 protestors. During this protest she met another woman, McKeown and together the three of them established the Peace People.

Awards & Achievement

Betty Williams received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 for her endless effort to establish some peace in the society also for promoting a peaceful resolution in Ireland.

Other awards & achievements given to her were:

People Peace Prize Norway

Schweitzer Medallion for Courage

The Martin Luther King Jr. Award

The Eleanor Roosevelt Award

The Frank Foundation Children Care International Oliver Award

Quotes

“Let's have no empty talk from this assembly, let's get something done.”
- Betty Williams

“I think they were just out to get a black young man as quickly and prosecute him as quickly as possible,”
- Betty Williams

“Patriotism kills.”
- Betty Williams

“We do not want this to be a 'cover-up' and are asking for a full investigation with transparent resolution to inform the entire community.”
- Betty Williams

“I swear to God, it's an incredible force for good if you can remember that nonviolence is the weapon of the strong.”
- Betty Williams

“God doesn't start wars. That's the greatest load of nonsense. Mankind starts wars. But then we bless armies to go and kill in God's name. Somebody's got to blow that myth out of the water.”
- Betty Williams

“It's gonna be a great thing. They do wonderful work helping people. We'll have a lot of celebrating to do when they make it.”
- Betty Williams

“We should stop worshipping flags and respect the people, remember the people and forget the flags.”
- Betty Williams

“We have 2,290 more people in the work force this March than we did a year ago.”
- Betty Williams

“Every year it gets better.”
- Betty Williams

“Women are strong enough to help the men to understand. They are the givers of life and they must now protect life.”
- Betty Williams

“But without painful experiences we don't grow.”
- Betty Williams

“That could've been disastrous. Normally they would be in that classroom, except today.”
- Betty Williams

“There's no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution.”
- Betty Williams

“Two-point-seven percent unemployment equates to -- everybody who wants to work is working. It equates to full employment.”
- Betty Williams

“Nonviolence is not a thing that comes easily. You have to learn how to be nonviolent.”
- Betty Williams

“I am relieved he's still there (in prison) -- very relieved -- because he's a very, very dangerous man. To think of him out there in the public just terrifies me.”
- Betty Williams